Women in STEM: Raye Montague Lesson Unit
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Looking for an inspiring story to teach kids about perseverance, innovation, and women in STEM? The story of Raye Montague is a powerful and often overlooked chapter in STEM history. Use this Women in STEM lesson unit to introduce students to Montague’s remarkable life and groundbreaking achievements in engineering and computer science.
Who Was Raye Montague?
Raye Montague (1935–2018) was an American engineer who revolutionized naval ship design by creating the first computer-generated draft of a U.S. Navy ship. She broke through race and gender barriers during a time when very few women—and even fewer African American women—were represented in engineering fields.
Montague started her career as a clerk typist at the U.S. Navy but pursued her education at night, earning a degree in business while self-teaching herself computer programming. Despite systemic discrimination, she became the Navy’s first female program manager of ships and earned numerous accolades for her contributions to national defense.
Her innovation shortened the design process of ships from two years to just over 18 hours—an incredible advancement that paved the way for modern shipbuilding.
Why Teach About Women in STEM?
Women like Raye Montague are essential to STEM history, yet their contributions are often underrepresented in textbooks. Teaching about women in STEM:
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Provides diverse role models for all students
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Encourages girls to pursue STEM careers
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Builds historical understanding of equity in science and technology
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Fosters conversations about resilience, representation, and social change
Book Inspiration: The Girl With a Mind for Math
This lesson unit is based on the beautifully written and illustrated children’s biography The Girl With a Mind for Math by Julia Finley Mosca and illustrated by Daniel Rieley from The Innovation Press. The book tells Raye Montague’s story in a fun and accessible way for elementary-aged students, making it a perfect read-aloud for classrooms or homeschool.
(See my other post on The Girl Who Thought in Pictures.)
Want to teach your kids or students about Ray Montague? You should! 🙂 Grab the book on Amazon then download this unit to make it even more fun!
What’s Included in the Raye Montague Lesson Unit
This 4-page printable learning packet includes:
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A brief biography of Raye Montague in kid-friendly language
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U.S. Navy basics to give students context about shipbuilding and military service
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“Interview an Engineer” worksheet to encourage real-world STEM exploration
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“Lessons from Raye” reflection page for personal connections and critical thinking
This is a great resource to use during:
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Women’s History Month
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STEM or engineering units
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Black History Month
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Biographical studies
Where to Get the Lesson
You can purchase and download the Raye Montague Lesson Unit directly from my shop:
Pair it with the book for a rich, meaningful educational experience. This lesson is perfect for homeschool, classroom, or co-op settings.
$4.50Add to cart
Let’s Keep Celebrating STEM Heroes
Montague’s story reminds us that brilliance and determination are stronger than the limitations others may try to place on us. Help your students see the possibilities within themselves by introducing them to real-life STEM heroes like Raye Montague.
See Also: Temple Grandin Unit Study
